Door-hanging workbench

ABSTRACT

A door-hanging workbench consisting of a chassis mounted on wheels for supporting a door in one position or another while cutouts are made on one side for hinges, on the other side for mounting such hardware has knobs, latch bolts and locks. Horizontal carriers support and clamp the door on the bench and are tiltably mounted on upright supports so that the door can be held with either edge uppermost or with the flat side horizontal. The carrier is adjustable so that the same workbench can accommodate doors of various different sizes.

United States Patent Bell Feb. 22, 1972 54] DOOR-HANGING WORKBENCH 2,536,239 1/1951 Tyndall ..269/l52 x 3,362,673 1 1968 P t h ..248 133 X 72 Inventor: Archie Y. Bell, 1415 E. Mountain St., I a c Glendale, Calif 91207 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Oct 2 Attorney-Beehler& Arant [21] Appl.No.: 863,050 [57] ABSTRACT A door-hanging workbench consisting of a chassis mounted on 52 us. c1. ..269/16, 108/8, 144/288, wheels for supporting a door in one position or another while 214/1 SW 269/ 17 269/149 269/ 152 269/321 cutouts are made on one side for hinges, on the other side for [51] Int Cl nzsb U22 A 5/12 mounting such hardware has knobs, latch bolts and locks. 58 Fi F 56 152 16 Horizontal carriers support and clamp the door on the bench 1 e o are I and are tiltably mounted on upright supports so that the door 269/17, 149; 214/1 31 1 SW; 248/133 can be held with either edge uppermost or with the flat side 108/8; 144/233; 143/47 J horizontal. The carrier is adjustable so that the same workbench can accommodate doors of various different sizes. [56] References Cited 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS A 1,580,627 4/192 Peterson m..269/1115:

PATENTEDFEBZZ m2 3,643,935

SHEET 1 or 2 I N vEA/To/e /QCH/E I: BELL DOOR-HANGING WORKBENCH In order to keep pace with the demand for more rapid and economical installation of doors on new construction, sundry attempts have been made to prefabricate doors matching them with the door frame in the hope that when the door is delivered to the job with the frame already in place, the door can be merely matched to the proper frame and hung so as to swing and close properly. In practice, however, this and comparable attempts to improve the speed and reliability of door installation have met with a variety of difficulties and problems which continue to require fitting on the job. Although small hollow core doors can often be removed readily by the craftsman and worked over on the site so as to be properly hung, there is a continually prevailing practice to increase the si ze and weight of doors, especially on public buildings, to the point where they are so heavy that they can be managed by one man only with difficulty, many such doors encountered daily weighing as much as 200 lbs. or more. Because of such circumstances, even though conventional Workbenches have been provided for the use of craftsmen when preparing a door for hanging such, for example, as cutting recesses for hinges, boring or mortising recesses for the mounting of locks and latch bolts, and also for cutting oversized doors to size and properly beveling them, the average bench is not constructed for special rapid handling but more for craftsmens use and frequently, with the increasing weight of doors, fails to provide for ease and speed demanded by current construction technology.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved workbench upon which a panel can be positioned, the workbench being such as to present either edge or the flat side of the panel to a convenient work location where the craftsman can readily perform whatever job may be necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable door hanging workbench upon which the door may be placed for movement about the premises to a desired location and which is also equipped to such an extent that the door can be shifted to various positions on the workbench as, for example, to one position for cutting recesses for hinges, to another position for mounting a door lock, and to still another position for cutting to size, planing or even finishing the surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable door-hanging bench possessed of a door carrier which can be moved to a handy location permitting the door to be placed upon the bench with appreciable ease and thereafter moved about on the bench as may be needed by the craftsman in working on the door.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable door hanging bench upon which not only the door may be carried about and positioned in a proper location for work on it but which also is capable of carrying the necessary craftsmans tools.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and.combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side perspective view of the portable door-hanging bench showing a door of relatively great width mounted thereon as shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the carrier with the door in one tilted position, and an auxiliary door positioner by means of which a door may be brought to the location of the bench..

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the door swung to an opposite edge-up position and showing also the carrier adjusted to a door of narrower width.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view with the door and carrier in still another position of adjustment.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a portion of the carrier with the door removed.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a chassis indicated generally by the reference character 10 mounted upon caster wheels 11, 12, 13, and 14. At least one of the caster wheels as, for example, the caster wheel 12 should be equipped with a brake or locking device of appropriate conventional sort. The chassis 10 in the embodiment illustrated consists of spaced-parallel channel sections 15 and 16 forming opposite ends of the chassis interconnected by means of four bars 17, the chassis therefore being one of relatively open construction.

On each channel section there is mounted an upright support or post 20, here shown as being square in section, and received in a collar 21 in which it is confined by a screw 22. A similar upright support or post 23 is received in a collar 24 on the channel section 16 at the opposite end of the chassis 10.

On the top of each upright support is a tiltable beam 30, there being provided a bracket 31 on the beam, tiltably supported upon a support 20. A knurled knob 33 in threaded engagement with a shaft 32 can be tightened against washers 34 and 35 and friction pads 36 and 37, whereby to anchor the beam 30 either in horizontal or any other position and to loosen it when there is need for it to be tilted to one side or the other.

As may be observed from the sectional views of FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the beam 30 is tubular and has, at the left-hand end as viewed in FIG. 5, an extendable and retractable retainer 38, held in a selected extended or retracted position by means of a tightening screw 39. A flange 40 on the retainer member provides a stop when engaging a pad 4l on the top of the channel section to hold the beam 30 in a selected angular tilt as for example shown in FIG. 2.

At the opposite end of the beam 30 is a similar retainer 42 held in selected position by means of a tightening screw 43, and at the outer end of which is a flange 44 serving as a stop when it engages a pad 45 at the opposite end of the channel section 15. There is a similar beam structure and appropriate retainer on the top of each of the upright supports 20 and 23, hence a description of one will suffice for both.

On each of the beams 30 is a tilt support bracket 45 provided with a foot 46 for engagement with the door in an appropriate position of adjustment and including a detent 47 to hold the bracket 45 in the solid line removed position of FIGS. 1 and 3, when desired.

Slidably mounted upon the retainer 38 is a retainer clamp 48, adapted to be held in a selected position by means of a tightening screw 49 and presenting a pad 50 for engagement with an appropriate edge 51 of a panel or door 52. Reference is made primarily to the panel as consisting of a door but the workbench is convenient for handling virtually any type of panel on which work needs to be done. At the opposite end a retainer clamp 53 held in selected position by a tightening screw 54 carries a pad 55 which is presented to an opposite edge 56 of the door 52. FIGS. 2 and 5 shown the retainer clamps in the position of adjustment to accommodate a door 52 of maximum width. When the door is of diminished width, the retainer clamps can be slid inwardly until the pad in each instance engages with the respective edge of the door, thereby to firmly hold the door in position on each of the beams 30.

A basket 60 for tools has a hook 61 at one end in supporting engagement with a bracket 62 on the adjacent upright support 23. At the opposite end of the basket 60 is a similar hook 63 in engagement with a bracket 64 on the upright support 20, whereby the bracket can be slung at a convenient height approximately beneath the midportion of the door, but wherein the bracket is exposed on one side or the other of the door when the door is in tilted position, thereby to give the craftsman easy access to tools in the basket. By having the basket 60 an open mesh, there is avoided a progressive accumulation of sawdust and shavings created by work done on the door.

On those occasions when the door may be of narrower construction, the tilt position of the beams on one side or the other of the chassis remains determined by the outwardly extended position of the respective retainers 38 and 42. The retainer clamps, however, are slid inwardly on each side so that the respective pads are in proper engagement with a door 52'. Doors of intermediate breadth can be similarly accommodated.

In use, the beams are tilted downwardly on one side or the other as exemplified by the tilt toward the left as viewed in FIG. 2, there to have the door 52 loaded upon them. As a convenience and especially for the handling of extra heavy doors, a door positioner indicated generally by the reference character 67 may be used. This consists of a fork element 68 between which is a single wheel 69, there being an open pocket 70 in which the door may be positioned edgewise on an appropriate pad 71 with the pad supporting the door at substantially its midportion so that it balances on the single wheel. A handlebar 72 attached to one side of the fork element 68 and lying in close parallel relationship throughout substantially the entire width of the door, so that a handhold 73 at the upper end is near the upper edge of the door, can effectively facilitate handling. The door when brought to a position adjacent the chassis 10 by use of the door positioner 67 can be lifted at one end by tilting the positioner until the appropriate edge of the door overlies the adjacent retainer clamp 48 after which the opposite end of the door can be lifted free of the door positioner 67 and placed upon the appropriate retainer clamp at the other end of the chassis. The door will then be in the position shown by the solid line of FIG. 2. In this position, the upper edge of the door is facing uppermost so that it can be readily worked upon by the craftsman for such an operation as recessing the edge of the door for reception of hinges. When this operation is complete, all that is necessary is for the craftsman to swing the beams and the door 52 to the opposite position of tilt as suggested in FIG. 3 in which position the opposite edge of the door is presented uppermost for work upon it. This may entail not only cutting a mortise hole for a lock, but also permits the edge of the door to be planed or sanded or if need be to be beveled. In that position adjacent retainer clamp can be lifter clear and tightened in clear position until the work has been completed.

Should it be necessary to work on the door in a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 5, the beams are merely tilted to horizontal position which can be detected by a spring pressed detent 74, as shown in FIG. 6, and there tightened in position by use of the knob 33. Inasmuch as opposite ends of the door are clear, one end or the other can be readily cut to size should the door be too high.

Further still, should it be desirable, the door can be held to an almost vertical position by extending the tilt support brackets 45 to the broken line position of FIG. 3, thereby holding the upper edge of the door entirely clear of the retainer clamps for such work as might be more advantageously done upon it in that position.

Once the door has been cut, beveled, and such hardware applied as appropriate, it can be lifted from the beams by reversing the procedure described for placing the door on the beams in the first instance, the beams being tilted to one or another of the positions of FIGS. 2, or 3 for this purpose. Obviously, should the door be light enough to be handled without need for the door positioner 67, the positioner can be dispensed with.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

l. A workbench for performing work on a panel of selected breadth and length, said workbench comprising a chassis, a pair of spaced upright supports on said chassis, movable means for receiving said panel, said means being limited to panel carrier beams independent of each other, one said beam being tiltably attached to each said upright support, and laterally extendable and retractable retainers on said carrier beams adapted to engage side edges of the panel for positioning the panel on said carrier beams outwardly facing edges of said carrier beams for supporting said panel being in the same flat plane, said movable means being free of structure which is parallel to said carrier beams and which extends above said plane, stop means on the chassis adjacent the floor, said carrier having a first position of engagement with said stop means in one edgewise working position of said carrier and said panel wherein one side of said carrier is adjacent the floor and the other side is uppermost and exposed for work thereon, and a second position of engagement against said stop means in a second edgewise working position of said carrier and said panel wherein said one side is uppermost and exposed for work thereon, and wherein end edges of said panel always remain exposed.

2. A workbench as in claim 1 including means releasably anchoring said carrier in the respective working positions.

3. A workbench as in claim 1 including clamping means acting between said carrier and said extendable and retractable retainer whereby to adjust said retainers for accommodation of panels of different widths.

4. A workbench for performing work on panels, said workbench comprising a chassis, a pair of spaced upright supports on said chassis, panel carrier means tiltably attached to said upright supports and laterally extendable and retractable retainers on said carrier means adapted to engage side edges of the panel for holding the panel in position on said carrier, said carrier having a first tilted working position wherein one side thereof is adjacent the floor and the other side is uppermost, and a second tilted working position wherein said one side is uppermost, said carrier comprising a beam for each upright support, a longitudinally adjustable stop at each end of the beam adapted to engage the chassis to limit tilt of the carrier, and separate retainer elements each having a slidably adjustable position on the respective beam for engagement with the respective edge of the panel.

5. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there are caster wheels on said chassis and at least one of said wheels having a brake.

6. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there is a movable bracket adjacent the midportion of said carrier adapted to support the panel in a position wherein the adjacent face of the panel is held free of the carrier.

7. A workbench as in claim 1 including a tool basket slung between said supports at a location beneath said carrier.

8. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there are locating means and tightening means cooperable with said panel carrier means in horizontal position whereby to hold the panel in horizontal position for work thereon.

9. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there is a stop component at each end of the carrier means engageable with the stop means, said components having a slidable adjustment relative to the carrier means for setting the position of the carrier means. 

1. A workbench for performing work on a panel of selected breadth and length, said workbench comprising a chassis, a pair of spaced upright supports on said chassis, movable means for receiving said panel, said means being limited to panel carrier beams independent of each other, one said beam being tiltably attached to each said upright support, and laterally extendable and retractable retainers on said carrier beams adapted to engage side edges of the panel for positioning the panel on said carrier beams, outwardly facing edges of said carrier beams for supporting said panel being in the same flat plane, said movable means being free of structure which is parallel to said carrier beams and which extends above said plane, stop means on the chassis adjacent the floor, said carrier having a first position of engagement with said stop means in one edgewise working position of said carrier and said panel wherein one side of said carrier is adjacent the floor and the other side is uppermost and exposed for work thereon, and a second position of engagement against said stop means in a second edgewise working position of said carrier and said panel wherein said one side is uppermost and exposed for work thereon, and wherein end edges of said panel always remain exposed.
 2. A workbench as in claim 1 including means releasably anchoring said carrier in the respective working positions.
 3. A workbench as in claim 1 including clamping means acting between said carrier and said extendable and retractable retainer whereby to adjust said retainers for accommodation of panels of different widths.
 4. A workbench for performing work on panels, said workbench comprising a chassis, a pair of spaced upright supports on said chassis, panel carrier means tiltably attached to said upright supports and laterally extendable and retractable retainers on said carrier means adapted to engage side edges of the panel for holding the panel in position on said carrier, said carrier having a first tilted working position wherein one side thereof is adjacent the floor and the other side is uppermost, and a second tilted working position wherein said one side is uppermost, said carrier comprising a beam for each upright support, a longitudinally adjustable stop at each end of the beam adapted to engage the chassis to limit tilt of the carrier, and separate retainer elements each having a slidably adjustable position on the respective beam for engagement with the respective edge of the panel.
 5. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there are caster wheels on said chassis and at least one of said wheels having a brake.
 6. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there is a movable bracket adjacent the midportion of said carrier adapted to support the panel in a position wherein the adjacent face of the panel is hEld free of the carrier.
 7. A workbench as in claim 1 including a tool basket slung between said supports at a location beneath said carrier.
 8. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there are locating means and tightening means cooperable with said panel carrier means in horizontal position whereby to hold the panel in horizontal position for work thereon.
 9. A workbench as in claim 1 wherein there is a stop component at each end of the carrier means engageable with the stop means, said components having a slidable adjustment relative to the carrier means for setting the position of the carrier means. 